Skopje, November 14, 2023 – Ambassador Erin E. McKee, Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) participated in events that highlighted the U.S.'s commitment to fostering a modern, diverse workforce aligned with market needs: “USAID is creating paths to careers by upgrading the skills needed to build the future workforce, and transform North Macedonia from a place to live into a place to thrive.”
Ambassador McKee observed a cybersecurity training course at the Faculty of Economics IT lab at the Saints Cyril and Methodius University joined by Andrew Brand, Head of Programmes of the British Embassy Skopje. The training course captures the collaboration between USAID, the British government, the Government of North Macedonia, and the private sector to build the country’s cybersecurity workforce. “Cybersecurity is an essential factor in social and economic progress,” stated Ambassador McKee. “As democracy goes digital, the United States is committed to ensuring it is resilient to threats from malign actors. This is why USAID is investing in cybersecurity in North Macedonia.”
Cyberattacks against critical infrastructure can paralyze public services, erase digital systems, and hack into state records. To strengthen North Macedonia’s cybersecurity resiliency, USAID is working with critical infrastructure operators in North Macedonia to train employees on how to prevent, respond to, and recover from cyber-attacks..
Ambassador McKee was joined by Minister of Labor and Social Policy Trenchevska at the launch of a USAID youth flagship activity that will generate opportunities for young people to drive North Macedonia's economic growth and encourage active civic engagement in their communities. Ambassador McKee emphasized the strategic connection between empowering North Macedonia's youth and key regional goals like EU-Atlantic integration and regional stability. McKee stated: "USAID works to enable an environment where youth have equal access to well paying jobs. When youth innovate, they develop thriving careers and can participate to improve civic life”.
The American people, through USAID, have invested more than $840 million in North Macedonia since 1993. USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID’s work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience.
USAID Maqedonia e Veriut